Rhododendron plant named &#39;BAILEB&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Rhododendron  cultivar named ‘BAILEB’ is disclosed, characterized by distinctive semi-double red-purple flowers dotted darker red-purple. Plants bloom Spring, Summer and Fall and exhibit good tolerance for hot conditions and other environmental stressors. Plants are easy to propagate and have very dark green foliage, near RHS Green 139A. The new cultivar is a  Rhododendron , suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Rhododendron hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘BAILEB’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program by theinventor, Robert Edward Lee. The inventor's intention was to developRhododendron hybrid plants with re-blooming characteristics. This newvariety, hereinafter referred to as ‘BAILEB’, was discovered as aseedling, resulting from the crossing of Rhododendron ‘Schroeder's PinkPerfection’, unpatented with the pollen parent Rhododendron olhamii‘Fourth of July’, unpatented. The cross resulting in the new varietyoccurred during the Spring of 1990. The new variety was selected by theinventor during the Fall of 1996 at a commercial nursery inIndependence, La.

After identifying the new variety as a potentially interestingselection, the inventor first organized propagation of ‘BAILEB’ byvegetative terminal cuttings Fall of 1996 at the same commercial nurseryin Independence, La. The inventor continued controlled testing andpropagation, assessing stability of the unique characteristics of thisvariety. At least three generations have been reproduced and have shownthat the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced trueto type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘BAILEB’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘BAILEB’ These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘BAILEB’ as a new and distinct Rhododendron cultivar:

-   -   1. Unique Spring, Summer, and Fall blooming.    -   2. Flowers colored near RHS Red-Purple 68A upper petals dotted        with Red-Purple 67A.    -   3. Dark green mature leaf color near Green 139A.    -   4. Tolerant of environmental stressors.    -   5. Good heat tolerance.    -   6. Plants well suited for landscape use, including as a specimen        plant or hedge.    -   7. Observed hardy to at least Zone 7.    -   8. Easy propagation

COMPARISON TO PARENT VARIETY

‘BAILEB’ is similar in most horticultural characteristics to the seedparent Rhododendron hybrid ‘Schroeder' s Pink Perfection’. Plants of thenew cultivar ‘BAILEB’ however differ in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has a darker red-purple flower color.    -   2. Flowers of the new variety are larger and do not have the        star shape of this comparator.    -   3. Plants of the new variety grow larger, approximately double        in size after 10 years, compared to plants of this comparator.

‘BAILEB’ is similar in most horticultural characteristics to the pollenparent Rhododendron olhamii ‘Fourth of July’. Plants of the new cultivar‘BAILEB’ however differ in the following:

-   -   1. ‘BAILEB’ produces semi-double flower, flowers of ‘Fourth of        July’ are single.    -   2. The new variety has a red-purple flower, whereas flower color        of ‘Fourth of July’ is brick red with a purple blotch.    -   3. The new variety tolerates lower temperatures.    -   4. Plants of the new variety are more vigorous.    -   5. Plants of the new variety have a stronger root system.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘BAILEB’ can be compared to the commercial variety Rhododendron hybrid‘Roblec’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,339. Plants of the new cultivar ‘BAILEB’are similar to plants of ‘Roblec’ in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘BAILEB’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. ‘Baileb’ has a lighter red-purple flower.    -   2. Plants of ‘Baileb’ grow more slowly than plants of ‘Roblec’.    -   3. Mature foliage of ‘Baileb’ is dark green, near RHS Green        139A, mature foliage of ‘Roblec’ is Yellow-Green 147A.

‘BAILEB’ can be compared to the commercial variety Rhododendron hybrid‘Conlea’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,438. Plants of the new cultivar ‘BAILEB’are similar to plants of ‘Conleb’ in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘BAILEB’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. ‘Baileb’ has lighter colored flowers than ‘Conlea’.    -   2. Foliage of ‘Conlea’ is smaller.    -   3. Foliage of the new variety is darker green than foliage of        ‘Conlea’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a 2 yearold plant of the new variety in a 3 gallon pot. FIG. 2 illustrates infull color a close up of typical flowers of the new variety. Thephotographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colorsmay appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it isas accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘BAILEB’ plants grown outdoors in Loxley, Ala.Plants are approximately 2 years old, in a 3 gallon nursery container.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical planttypes.

-   Botanical classification: Rhododendron hybrid ‘BAILEB’-   Propagation: Typically by semi-hardwood cuttings in Spring and    Summer.    -   -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous young roots, well branched.            Colored near RHS Grey-Brown 199A.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Upright evergreen shrub.        -   Height.—Approximately 75 cm to top of foliar and flowering            plane.        -   Plant spread.—Approximately 60 cm.        -   Branching characteristics.—Moderately well branched,            approximately 3 to 4 primary branches from the center of the            plant. Branches occur at approximately 15° angles. Each            primary branch has 4 to 8 lateral branches.        -   Primary branches.—.        -   Length of primary branches.—Primary branches are pinched,            remaining at approximately 10 cm.        -   Diameter of primary branches.—Approximately 1.4 cm.        -   Primary branch strength.—Very strong, difficult to break.        -   Primary branch color.—Near Greyed-Orange 175A, completely            covered with an overlay color near Green 137B.        -   Primary branch texture.—Slightly rough, minor peeling or            scaly texture.        -   Lateral branches.—.        -   Number of lateral branches.—Approximately 4 to 8 per primary            branch.        -   Length of lateral branches.—Average range 40 to 55 cm.        -   Diameter of lateral branches.—Average 0.8 cm.        -   Lateral branch strength.—Very strong, flexible.        -   Lateral branch color.—New growth near RHS Yellow-Green            151A,; oldest branches become woody, colored near            Greyed-Orange 177A.        -   Lateral branch texture.—Immature growth hirsute. Older            growth somewhat rough, slightly, hirsute.        -   Internode length.—Average range 3.0 cm to 5.0 cm.        -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 2 years.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Type: Simple Arrangement: Sub-opposite. Average            Length: Approximately 5.5 cm. Average Width: Approximately            1.8 cm. Shape of blade: Elliptic Apex: Acute. Base:            Attenuate. Attachment: Stalked Margin: Entire. Short            cilliate. Texture of top surface: Moderately pubescent.            Hairs appressed, very short, rough. Texture of bottom            surface: Moderately pubescent. Hairs short, rough. Color:            Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A,            slightly darker Young foliage under side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 146C Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green            139A Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 152D Venation color under side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 151B.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 0.7 cm. Diameter: About 0.15 cm            Color: Upper Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 152B Lower            Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green N144A.-   Flower:    -   -   Bloom period.—Plants begin flowering in the Spring, and            continue to produce flowers throughout Summer and Fall.        -   Flower.—.        -   Arrangement.—Axillary clusters of perfect, open funnel            shaped individual flowers. Typically 5 to 9 flowers per            cluster.        -   Inflorescence.—Height: Average 9.0 cm. Diameter: Average            12.0 cm.        -   Peduncle.—Not present, inflorescence pedicels emerge            directly from node.        -   Pedicel.—Length: Average 0.8 cm to 1.7 cm. Diameter: 0.3 cm.            Color: Near RHS Red-Purple 61C Texture: Densely pubescent.            Long, soft hairs colored near White N155B Aspect: Slightly            curved. Angle of attachment, approximately 45° to 75° angle            from stem. Strength: Sturdy and flexible.        -   Flowers.—Length: Average 4.0 cm. Diameter: Average 6.0 cm.            Facing direction: Outwardly and upwardly facing. Persistent            or self-cleaning: Corolla self-cleaning Fragrance: Faint            sweet scent.        -   Tube.—Tube length: Approximately 1.5 cm Tube width a widest            point: Approximately 1.7 cm Tube width and narrowest point:            Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Petals.—Unfused petal segments: Length: Approximately            2.7 cm. Width: Approximately 2.1 cm Apex: Blunt, rounded.            Shape of petal: Unfused portion, oblong. Petal margin:            Entire. Aspect undulating to ruffled. Petal Arrangement:            Overlapping, bilateral symmetry dissecting bottom petal.            Petals fused approximately ⅓ distance from base. Petal            Number: Average 12. Petal Texture: Smooth Color: Upper            surface at first opening: Near RHS Red-Purple N66C. Dotted            near Red-Purple 53B. Under surface at first opening: Near            RHS Red-Purple N66B. Inner surface at maturity: Near RHS            Red-Purple 68A upper petals dotted with Red-Purple 67A Outer            surface at maturity: Near RHS Red-Purple 68B Upper surface            at fading: Near RHS Red-Purple 68A upper petals dotted with            Red-Purple 70A Under surface at fading: Near RHS Red-Purple            70B.        -   Bud.—Shape: Elliptic Length: 2.5 cm Diameter: 1.5 cm Color:            Near RHS Red-Purple 71C.        -   Calyx/sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5 sepals Shape: Narrow            deltate Length: 0.7 cm Width: 0.4 cm Apex: Acute Base: Fused            Margin: Entire Texture: Highly pubescent, hairs appressed.            Color: Inner Surface: Near RHS Green 137C Outer Surface:            Near RHS Green 137A.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: 5, occasionally 7. fused to petaloids at            irregular lengths. Some stamens fully fused, with only            anther unfused, some stamens 10% fused to petaloids Stamen            Length: Average range 2.5 to 3.5 cm Width: 0.1 cm Color:            Near RHS Red-Purple N57B Anthers: Length: Approximately 0.2            cm Color: Near RHS Red-Purple 59A Pollen: Not observed.        -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: Average range 4.0 cm to 5.5 cm.            Style: Length: Average 3.7 cm to 5.0 cm. Color: Near RHS            Red-Purple N66A Stigma: Globular, colored near Red-Purple            59A Ovary: Sericeous texture. Approximately 0.4 cm in            diameter. Colored near Yellow-Green 145C.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Disease and pest resistance.—Not observed to be susceptible            nor resistant to normal diseases and pests of Rhododendron.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Observed hard to USDA Zone 7,            presumed hardy to Zone 6.        -   Fruit/seed production.—Not observed to date.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Rhododendron plantnamed ‘BAILEB’ as herein illustrated and described.